Security device for a sliding door or sliding window assembly

ABSTRACT

A security device for a sliding door or sliding window assembly comprising a base plate and a removably interlocking stop member. The base plate is securely fastened to the floor or window sill, respectively, in close proximity and along the path of movement of a sliding door or sliding window, by means of a plurality of openings for receiving screws. The stop member, while engagingly disposed in the interlocked, in use position, prevents the sliding door or sliding window from opening at all or past a predetermined point. The base plate and stop member are each formed having an interlocking means element, adapted to receive, matingly, the others interlocking means element. The stop member features a blocking element, which projects into the path of the sliding door or sliding window, while in the in use position. Removing the stop member allows normal movement of the sliding door or sliding window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a security device for use with sliding doors,sliding windows, sliding panels, sliding patio doors, and the like, toprevent entry from the outside when desired.

There exists a number of different types of security devices configuredto block a sliding door or sliding window from opening. For example,there exists numerous devices that mounts directly to the sliding dooror sliding window assembly, near it's upper or lower framing trackallowing the user to engage a plunger style pin into a hole in theframing track to prevent the door or window from opening. Further thereexists other devises designed to be mounted to the sliding door orsliding window assembly, which comprise pivoting or adjustable partswhich brace or block the sliding panel in the closed position. Thisrequires attaching these devices directly to the sliding door or slidingwindow panel or assembly as well as any other necessary alterations madeto the door or window assembly for such installations, which may alteror diminish the structural integrity of the assembly or affected partsof the assembly. Further, there exists portable brace devices which aredesigned to be placed and adjusted to fit between the sliding door orsliding window panel and it's vertical framing track, bracing themapart, securing the unit closed. These portable security devices areoften cumbersome and awkward to install or adjust each time they areused.

Furthermore these portable devices require uninstallation or adjustmentand storage when not in use. These portable security devices often arecomprised of a substantial number of parts, which may increase thelikelihood of failure, and increased cost of manufacturing.

There exists a need for an improved sliding door and sliding windowsecurity devise which is not directly attached to the sliding door orsliding window assembly, is not portable or in need of adjustment, issimple and easy to install, is simple and easy to use, and can bemanufactured more economically with fewer parts.

Further, it is desirable that such a devise may be installed adjacent tothe sliding door or sliding window assembly, securely fastened to thefloor, in relation to a sliding door, or the window sill, in relation toa sliding window, using the strength and holding power of the mountingsurface to maintain the sliding door or sliding window in a closedposition, or from passing a predetermined point along it's opening pathof movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be summarized as a two piece security devicefor sliding doors and sliding windows, comprised of a base plate and aremovably interlocking stop member, where as the base plate is securelyfastened to the floor in relation to a sliding door, or the window sillin relation to a sliding window, and the removably interlocking stopmember can be engagingly disposed to the base plate, in a blockingposition, projecting into the path of movement of the sliding door orsliding window, preventing it from opening at all or past apredetermined point.

It is the principle object of the present invention to provide asecurity device for a sliding door or sliding window assembly that ispermanently installed adjacent to the sliding door or sliding windowassembly, securely fastened to the floor in relation to a sliding dooror the window sill in relation to a sliding window, using the strengthand holding power of the mounting surface to maintain the sliding dooror sliding window in a closed position, or from passing a predeterminedpoint along it's opening path of movement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a securitydevice for a sliding door or sliding window assembly which is notdirectly attached to the sliding door or sliding window assembly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a securitydevice for a sliding door or sliding window assembly which is notportable or in need of installation adjustment

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a securitydevice for a sliding door or sliding window assembly that is simple andeasy to install.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a securitydevice for a sliding door or sliding window assembly that is simple andeasy to use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a securitydevice for a sliding door or sliding window assembly, with few parts,making it economical to manufacture.

These and other objects of the present invention shall become apparentupon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of theinvention, securely fastened to the mounting surface, being used with asliding door or sliding window, in the in use, blocking position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodimentof the invention, in an unengaged, non use position.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the first preferred embodiment of theinvention, in the engaged, in use position.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the first preferred embodiment of theinvention, securely fastened to the mounting surface, in the in use,blocking position.

FIG. 5 is an exploded side view of the first preferred embodiment of theinvention, in an unengaged, non use position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of theinvention, securely fastened to the mounting surface, being used with asliding door or sliding window, in the in use, blocking position.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferredembodiment of the invention, in an unengaged, non use position.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the second preferred embodiment of theinvention, in the engaged, in use position.

FIG. 9 is an exploded side view of the second preferred embodiment ofthe invention, in an unengaged, non use position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the second preferred embodiment of theinvention, securely fastened to the mounting surface, in the in use,blocking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-10, of the present invention, whereinthe same or generally similar features share common reference numerals.The numeral 3 indicates generally a sliding panel, of a sliding door orsliding window assembly, shown only partially and in the closedposition, while the numeral 17 indicates generally the lower frame trackof a sliding door or sliding window assembly, on or in which saidsliding panel 3 moves horizontally back and forth, while the numeral 4indicates generally the mounting surface to which the invention isaffixed.

The sliding door and sliding window security devise shown in FIGS. 1-10of the drawing sheets, consists of a removably interlocking stop member1 and a base plate 2, each made of metal or other materials with goodstrength characteristics. While interlockingly engaged, in the in useposition, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the removably interlocking stopmember 1 will project into the path of movement 21 of the sliding panel3, blocking it from moving at all or past a predetermined point,depending on the placement of the base plate 2, which is securelyfastened to the mounting surface 4, adjacent to and along the path ofmovement 21, of the sliding panel 3.

In a first preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 1-5, the base plate 2 ischaracterized as a flat anchor plate, having a plurality of openings 7for receiving screws 8, which securely fasten the base plate 2 to themounting surface 4, with the mounting surface 4 being the floor inrelation to a sliding door or the window sill in relation to a slidingwindow, on a substantially similar longitudinal axis to the path ofmovement 21 of the sliding panel 3, adjacent to and in close proximityto the leading edge 18 of the sliding panel 3 of a sliding door orsliding window assembly in the closed position, wherein the base plate 2is positioned such that the removably interlocking member 1, whileengagingly disposed, projects into the path of movement 21 of thesliding panel 3 as closely as possible to the leading edge 18 of thesliding panel 3, in a blocking position, with the base plate 2 having aslot 5 of a predisposed shape, eg. T slot, formed into the base platetop 9 on a transverse longitudinal axis, perpendicular to the path ofmovement 21 of the sliding panel 3 and characterized as a recessed slotformed fully through base plate 2 from base plate front side 13 to baseplate back side 14, with base plate back side 14 being in closestproximity to the sliding panel 3, with said slot 5 having a slot opening6 on base plate front side 13, and an optional slot opening on baseplate side 14 and adapted to receive, by insertion, the similarly shapedbottom 10 of the removably interlocking stop member 1, enablinginsertion and interlocking engagement of the stop member 1 with the baseplate 2. The arrangement is such that the stop member 1 is insertableand slidably movable through the slot 5 in a direction generallytransverse of the base plate 2 and perpendicular to the path of movementof the sliding panel 3.

The removably interlocking stop member 1 is characterized as an uprightremovably interlocking stop member, oriented perpendicularly to andprojecting into the path of movement 21 of the sliding panel 3 whileengagingly disposed to the floor plate 2, in use position, and having abottom 10, a middle 11, a top 12, a nose projection 22, a front edge 16,and a rear edge 15, with bottom 10 formed with a predisposed shape, eg.inverted T, linearly from front edge 16 to rear edge 15, adapted to beinsertably engaged with the similarly shaped slot 5 of the base plate 2at said slot opening 6, with middle 11 formed upwardly from bottom 10 totop 12, connectively and supportively, with top 12 facilitating handlingand having said nose projection 22 extending from it's front edge 16,forwardly, providing a blocking element for contact with said leadingedge 18 of sliding panel 3. The corresponding interlocking of the stopmember 1 and the base plate 2 prevents the sliding panel 3 from movingat all or past a predetermined point.

In a second embodiment, shown in FIGS. 6-10, the base plate 2 ischaracterized as a flat anchor plate, having a plurality of openings 7for receiving screws 8, which securely fasten the base plate 2 to themounting surface 4, with the mounting surface 4 being the floor inrelation to a sliding door or the window sill in relation to a slidingwindow, on a substantially similar longitudinal axis to the path ofmovement 21 of the sliding panel 3, adjacent to and in close proximityto the leading edge 18 of the sliding panel 3 of a sliding door orsliding window assembly in the closed position, wherein the base plate 2is positioned such that the removably interlocking member 1, whileengagingly disposed, projects into the path of movement 21 of thesliding panel 3 as closely as possible to the leading edge 18 of thesliding panel 3, in a blocking position, with the base plate 2 havingone or more openings 19, of a predisposed shape and orientation, formedinto the base plate top 9. The openings 19 are characterized as femaleopenings and adapted to receive by insertion, similarly shaped andoriented projections 20, characterized as male projections, projectingdownwardly from the underside of the bottom 10 of the removablyinterlocking stop member 1, enabling insertion and interlockingengagement of the removably interlocking stop member 1 with the baseplate 2, matingly, with reasonably close tolerances to substantiallyinhibit rotational or lateral movement. The arrangement is such that thestop member 1 is insertable from above.

The removably interlocking stop member 1 is characterized as an uprightremovably interlocking stop member, oriented perpendicularly to andprojecting into the path of movement of the sliding panel 3 whileengagingly disposed in use position, having a bottom 10, a middle 11, atop 12, a nose projection 22, a front edge 16, and a rear edge 15, withbottom 10 formed with one or more projections 20, of a predisposed shapeand orientation, projecting downwardly from it's underside and adaptedto be insertably engaged with the similarly shaped and oriented openings19 in the base plate top 9, and having middle 11 formed upwardly frombottom 10 to top 12, connectively and supportively, with top 12facilitating handling and having said nose projection 22 extending fromit's front edge 16, forwardly, providing a blocking element for contactwith said leading edge 18 of sliding panel 3. It is evident that theinterlocking of the stop member 1 and the base plate 2 prevents thesliding panel 3 from moving at all or past a predetermined point.

While the first preferred embodiment of the invention and a secondembodiment of the invention have been described above, it will berecognized and understood that various modifications may be made in theinvention and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sliding door and sliding window security devisecomprising a base plate and a removably interlocking stop member; saidbase plate will be fastened securely to the mounting surface, in closeproximity to and along the path of movement of the sliding panel of asliding door or sliding window assembly, with mounting surface being thefloor in relation to a sliding door or a window sill in relation to asliding window; said removably interlocking stop member, whileengagingly disposed in use position, stands upright in a blockingposition, with a forward portion projecting into the path of movement ofsaid sliding panel of a sliding door or sliding window assembly, therebypreventing the sliding panel from moving at all or past a predeterminedpoint depending on placement of the base plate when securely fastened tothe mounting surface. Accordingly, said removably interlocking stopmember, while in an unengaged, non use position, is removed and will notblock the path of movement of said sliding panel; said base plate andsaid removably interlocking stop member each comprise means ofinterlocking engagement with each other, wherein the removablyinterlocking stop member has means of interlocking at it's bottom andthe base plate has means of interlocking in it's top surface, formed tobe advantageously engaged in a blocking position, wherein the removablyinterlocking stop member is engagingly disposed in an orientationperpendicular to the path of movement of said sliding panel. Accordinglythe interlocking of the stop member and the base plate prevents thesliding panel from moving at all or past a predetermined point.
 2. Thesliding door and sliding window security devise of claim 1 wherein saidremovably interlocking stop member and said base plate interlock bymeans of mating features, as the base plate is formed having a slot of apredisposed shape, eg. T slot, formed into the base plate top on atransverse longitudinal axis, and perpendicular to the path of movementof the sliding panel and characterized as a recessed slot formed fullythrough base plate from front side to back side, with said slot having aslot opening on base plate front side, and an optional slot opening onback side and adapted to receive, by insertion, the similarly shaped,e.g. inverted T, bottom of the removably interlocking stop member,enabling insertion and interlocking engagement of the stop member withthe base plate. The arrangement is such that the removably interlockingstop member is insertable and slidably movable through the slot in adirection generally transverse of the base plate and perpendicular tothe path of movement of the sliding panel.
 3. The sliding door andsliding window security devise of claim 1 wherein said removablyinterlocking stop member and said base plate interlock by means ofmating features, as the base plate is formed having one or more openingsof a predisposed shape and orientation, formed into the base plate topand adapted to receive by insertion, similarly shaped and orientedprojections, projecting downwardly from the underside of the bottom ofthe removably interlocking stop member, enabling insertion andinterlocking engagement of the removably interlocking stop member andthe base plate, matingly, with said openings and projections having apredisposed shape and orientation, formed with reasonably closetolerances, as to substantially inhibit rotational or lateral movementof the stop member. The arrangement is such that the removablyinterlocking stop member is engagingly disposed from above.